"Lucy are you sure about this?" Desmond asked hesitantly, "There is no way we are just going to walk out of here like a pair tourists."
"Would you stop whining already?" Lucy snapped, scowling at him, "I told you I have an idea."
"That's reassuring." Desmond grumbled, "This comes from the woman who works for people whose 'bright ideas' include kidnapping bartenders and taking over the world with a silver ball."
Lucy chose not to respond to him and silently led the way to the service elevator. As the doors slid open, she pushed Desmond back, motioning him to hold the doors open while she slid around along the wall before stretching herself up to slap a small black sticker on a opaque piece of glass positioned in the corner.
"Amazing how the simplest things can still work." Lucy said, motioning Desmond to join her. "No one really watches this particular elevator but there's no need to take any chances just yet."
"Nah, plenty of time for that later." Desmond replied sarcastically, "Wait…why the roof?"
"You really don't like surprises do you?"
"Not when they involve the roof of a fucking tall building."
"Sounds like a personal problem to me."
Lucy refused to answer any more of his questions the rest of the ride to the roof, which increased his anxiety tenfold. He wasn't overly fond of heights, he usually got anxious whenever he witnessed Altair climb up tall buildings and the first time he had performed a leap of faith Desmond had almost screamed out loud. Why did he keep thinking that Lucy was going to ask him to perform a leap of faith off the building?
Up on the roof the wind buffeted them mercilessly, making Desmond even more uncomfortable. Lucy, thankfully, didn't go near the edge and look around, a sure sign of an impending jump, but rather scanned the skies. Desmond took a few shaky steps to join her and looked up, more out of trying to get his mind off the other direction than out of curiosity of what she was looking for. Then he spotted an eagle, soaring effortlessly in the wind. For a moment, Desmond thought nothing of it. There were plenty of eagles all over the holy land.
Wait…the holy land? Whoa, Desmond, he told himself, wrong time and place. You are not Altair!
"There she is. Alright, ready to go?" Lucy asked, "Desmond…are you ok?"
"Yeah, just peachy." He replied, rubbing his eyes.
"Ok, in a few minutes there's going to be a convoy of Air Force jets and cargo planes going overhead. One of them is going to fly low enough to drop a rope to pick us up. We only have one shot at this so- LOOK OUT!"
Desmond was thrown completely off-guard as Lucy suddenly threw herself at him, knocking him flat on his back. Taser prongs flew in front of him, landing harmlessly where he had been moments earlier.
"Don't move!" a deep voice ordered, "Surrender peacefully now and we won't tell Vidic about your little escape attempt. Thank you, Miss Stillman, for tracking him down."
They looked up to see two men wearing Abstergo security uniforms standing by the roof exit, both holding guns with the business end pointed at Desmond. For a long moment, no one moved, mostly due to shock and slight disbelief, but a shrill cry quickly shattered the ice.
The eagle came streaking down from the sky, raking one man's face with its sharp talons. The other cried out in surprise and quickly glanced skyward for crazed birds of prey but the real threat was actually in front of him. By the time he glanced back down, both Desmond's and Lucy's fists slammed into his face at the same time, dropping him like sack of potatoes.
"That was almost disappointingly easy." Desmond said, rubbing his knuckles, "I expected a bit more out of Abstergo."
"Just thank God that that was all." Lucy said, "Any more and we would have missed our plane. Good thing Raja was around to lend us a hand…or talon." She motioned towards the eagle.
Desmond opened his mouth to say something but the air was suddenly filled with the deep roar of several plane engines, making it difficult to hear. Suddenly the air was filled with planes, mostly cargo planes, bearing the US Air Force insignia. Lucy grabbed his arm and pointed to one plane that was flying noticeable lower than the others. A rope ladder dropped from it as it approached. But Desmond noticed something off…something that filled his very soul with dread.
"They're too far off! They can't get over the roof!" Lucy yelled, though Desmond had already come to the same conclusion, "We'll have to jump!"
"Jump? Jump! Are you crazy!?" Desmond screamed, his voice jumping several octaves.
"Would you rather stay here?" Lucy taunted, "Come on, you jumped many times with Altair."
"That was different!"
"Chicken!"
"Damn straight!"
"Coward!"
That did it. Desmond refused to be called a coward under any circumstances. Be it his own pride or some of Altair's that got infused in him thanks to the Bleed, he wouldn't let that insult slide so easily. Lucy smiled to herself as she saw Desmond's face harden. She had won, again.
"Leap of faith, Desmond, leap of faith!"
Then they ran together, hand in hand, towards the roof. Before Desmond could give his mind any time to think about it, he put his foot on the ledge and leaped out into open space.
XxXxXx
Masyaf 1191
"Are you sure about this?" Malik asked, more curious than skeptical, "It is just a rumor after all. You could be chasing ghosts…or running head first into a trap."
"All the more fun getting out then." Altair said, more to annoy Malik than anything, "And Acre is filled with far worse things than ghosts."
"Yes we all know about your run-in with that crazy beggar." Malik said.
Altair's glare could have frozen the Dead Sea but Malik was far too used to it to be affected. Besides, he was having a hard enough time trying not to laugh.
"That was completely unnecessary." Altair said coldly, "She…I…God dammit, she was chasing me and will you stop laughing!"
Malik was in hysterics watching Altair stutter, "Altair, you certainly have a deluded view of the situation!" he said between bouts of laughter, watching Altair's face burn as a few nearby assassins turned to regard the pair, "You took off like a scared pigeon! That wench popped up out of nowhere and scared you half to death! No one runs flat out for half a mile when there are no guards chasing them!"
"Would you shut up already!" Altair growled, face red with embarrassment.
"And miss seeing you squirm with humiliation? I don't think so."
"Somehow, running head-first into a trap planned by Templars who desperately want my head is far more preferable than putting up with this." Altair said, half under his breath.
"Alright, alright." Malik said, "Go and see what you can find out, if it'll make you feel better. Just try to not get into trouble this time. Oh, and Badoura wants to talk to you before you go. She said that if I forget to tell you or if you just skip out that she would feed both of us to Ghaddar."
In all honesty, Altair had no problem going to see Badoura. Besides her room being just down the hall from his own, she wouldn't try to humiliate him unless she felt he deserved it.
He didn't even bother knocking on her door, knowing she was waiting for him. He was greeted by a low growling as an immense white lioness trotted over. Normally the sight of a lion sent people running, especially if it was coming towards them, but this lioness was different. Altair actually crouched down and playfully tackled the creature amid an assault of friendly swipes and gentle bites. The lioness, Ghaddar, was a pet, as much as a lion could be a pet, and was as playful as she was menacing.
"Still hell-bent on going to Acre to investigate this rumor, little brother?" came a heady voice over the lioness' growls.
Altair looked up to see the only person to ever call him "little brother" and live to tell of it watching them amusedly from a pile of cushions across the room. Not that he could ever raise a hand to her even if he wanted to; Badoura would slice him up faster than he could blink, either with her tongue or an actual blade.
He smiled at her as a way of greeting and untangled himself from Ghaddar so he could go sit next to her. She was beautiful, tall and lithe with bronzed skin, long waves of dark brown hair and light chestnut eyes, but there was a deadly air about her, like there was a coiled snake in her ready to strike. Altair was familiar with it; he had helped bring it out in her so long ago.
See, Malik, Altair and Badoura had arrived at the fortress as children at the exact same time. Altair and Malik to become assassins and Badoura to work there. It wasn't long before Altair and Malik had become friends and once, during their forays throughout the place, came across Badoura being literally pushed around by another novice who was known to be a rather vicious bully. They had watched, rather impressed, as she spit in his face with the accuracy of a spitting cobra and kicked him where it really hurts. Unfortunately he had recovered enough before she make good of her escape to grab her by her long hair and drag her to the ground. She had screamed, not in fear, but in rage and had tried to bite him but by then Altair and Malik had decided to intervene. Three against one was too much for the bully and he had taken off rather quickly. Badoura, who was ready for the usual condescending attitude of her rescuers, was taken by surprise by their admiration and the three had quickly formed a friendship that would turn the fortress upside down and backwards with their antics.
But as they grew older it quickly became clear that Badoura had other uses besides a servant. She had, thanks to the training of her two "little brothers" in the dark of night, developed an uncanny ability to pick up information as well as slip in and out of places unnoticed. Not only that but she also had a rather motherly streak in her, hence her fondness for her "little brothers", and was as rather accomplished healer. Long story short, Al Mualim had noticed her abilities and allowed her to become the first 'unofficial' assassin.
"Malik tell you I was going to Acre or are you guessing?" Altair asked.
"You killed William of Montferrat in Acre, yes?" Badoura asked, one eyebrow arching, "So it makes sense that the rumor concerning the man's son would lead you to start hunting in Acre. Besides, I might know a thing or two concerning this."
"Is that why you asked to see me?"
"Among other things, yes."
"Such as…?"
"Malik told me of your discussion last night."
"Big-mouthed bastard." Altair muttered under his breath. Unfortunately, Badoura heard him.
"What? He's worried, as am I." she said, "You've been acting…off, so to speak, which is to be expected given recent events, but what I'm more concerned about is you using this rumor just as an excuse to stay away."
"What?" Altair asked, perplexed.
"Or run away, if that makes more sense." Badoura said bluntly, "Do you truly believe in this little mission of yours or are you running away?"
"I'm coming back." Altair pointed out, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"You misunderstand me." She said gently, rubbing Ghaddar's ears, "I know you'll come back, you'll always come back. I'd track you down myself. What I meant was; are you running away from the pain I know you carry in your heart instead of facing it?"
Altair was silent for a long moment. Was he really running away? His mind swirled in all different directions, trying to discern exactly where he stood in this. One thing kept popping up though; whenever he thought about someone trying to attack the brotherhood again, his heart burned with rage. But on the other hand, the thought of staying within the fortress walls right now hurt. He felt like a trapped horse, edgy and skittish, and he wanted nothing more than to get away, for a little while, at least.
"Maybe both, then." He finally answered, "I promised Malik I wouldn't allow the brotherhood to become vulnerable at this time and I intend to keep that promise, though I can't deny I want to get out for a little while."
Badoura beamed at him, "And that's exactly what I wanted to hear. If you had said you were running, you would have scared me to the point where I wouldn't have allowed you to leave this room, but had you denied that pain I would have beaten you over the head."
"Of that I have no doubt." Altair said, wondering why he had ever taught her to be so competent in combat, "I believe you said earlier you had some information?"
"Yes and you're lucky." She said, "I'm not going to ask for any favors…this time. Well, William of Montferrat's son, Conrad, has arrived in Acre not three days ago from Tyre, occupying his father's old residence. Be wary, however, for Conrad is not as foolish as his father, despite other rumors. He keeps himself very well protected and, unlike his father, has no intentions of betraying Richard. By all accounts, and from what I have seen myself, he is a very good-looking man, persuasive, and smart in his means of persuasion, using pictures to help sway the dumber herds of people, which are quite graphic, I might add. Not in any way persuasive to you or me or anyone with half a brain but there are far more ignorant people out there than those who actually use their heads. Don't make me have to take that statement back later, by the way."
" 'Good-looking'?" Altair teased, "Been sight seeing in Acre as well as listening?"
"Knock it off, Altair, before I remove your tongue" Badoura warned, then turned serious, "Akh, I can't warn you enough to be careful…this man is very dangerous. He won't simply kill you; he'll torture you to death over a course of weeks."
"I will be." Altair said, a familiar cocky smile spreading over his face, "He will never know I'm even there. Besides, I've been in and out of that place before…I know it a bit better than he does."
Badoura sighed. Some things just never change.
XxXxXx
2012
Desmond felt a familiar rush as he hung over nothing. Adrenalin pounded in his veins, making him feel slightly giddy, and his heart hammered in terrified excitement. His eyes locked on the rope ladder, zeroing his vision on that. It seemed to move in slow motion, making it very easy for him to reach out and grab it, pulling Lucy along with him. It seemed like nothing; he had done far more difficult things than this, jumped farther distances to grab onto not-so-cooperative walls or roofs, like the cathedral in Acre, or the temple in Jerusalem. He quickly climbed hand over hand up the rope, throwing Lucy onto his back where she clung in stupefied shock. This was child's play.
It wasn't until they got inside that the magnitude of what he had just done hit Desmond like a ton of bricks.
"H-holy sh-shit!" he stammered, quickly skittering away from the door, "That was totally fucked! I can't believe I just fucking did that!"
"Altair picked a good time to come through." Lucy said dryly as she stood, noticing that Desmond had a habit of cussing more than normal when he was excited. Quickly she glanced around the plane; empty, save a small crate against the far wall. Just the way it was supposed to be.
Gently she tugged at Desmond's shoulder and led him over to the crate, tugging it open and pulling out two bottles of water. They were going to be in for a long ride.
Desmond sighed as they leaned back against the wall of the plane, feeling greatly comforted by the rumble of the engines beneath him. To him, it was the sound of freedom. Neither he nor Lucy said anything for a while as they tried to catch their breath. They couldn't even if they wanted to; the engines made far too much noise. Finally, after about an hour or so, when they were convinced that Templars weren't going to descend upon them as they sat there, that Desmond finally turned to Lucy and asked the question he had been burning to know.
"I think this would be considered safely away now." Desmond said, "So, where are we going, what the hell just happened and, most importantly, what the hell did you do?"
"I'll answer what I did first; it will help make sense of everything else." Lucy said, ignoring his little outburst, "What I did was that I messed up that memory of the Piece of Eden."
A moment of silence followed her statement, punctuated only by the roar of the engines. Desmond stared at her for a moment, unable to really comprehend what he had just heard. Did she really just say…?
"Whoa, whoa, hold up." Desmond said, throwing his hands up, "How did you mess that up? I was there; there was no glitch to it! I saw the Piece of Eden show all the locations of all the others!"
"Ah, yes, but that is where you are wrong." Lucy smiled, " 'nothing is true, everything is permitted'. Remember that I'm an assassin spy? I controlled the Animus, not Vidic, me. I had been ready for that memory for a long time, setting up the right programs and making sure no one would take notice. When the memory finally came up, I allowed my pet program to run, taking that memory and scrambling the Piece of Eden locations. None of it was true, Desmond. Abstergo is on a wild goose chase thanks to me, which was why we had to leave and fast. It wouldn't be long before they realized they had been tricked and killed both you and me. I couldn't let that happen."
"So that memory technically was glitched?"
"In a way, yes. Didn't you find it weird that Malik, nor his men, never said anything when they joined Altair? Or that they just stood there without moving at all? That was my program's only problem…it couldn't reproduce the exact actions of the memory as well as scramble it. Fortunately it blended well with moment so no one really noticed. Plus the scramble is permanent. They will never uncover the true memory…not without you at least."
Desmond nodded, truly impressed, "Nice. So, Abstergo is now on a bogus national treasure hunt and we are hitch hiking on a US air force cargo plane in a desperate attempt to 'fly free' to…. where?"
"The only assassin stronghold left. Remember I told you that the stronghold where your parents lived had been found deserted? What I didn't have the time or the security to reveal to you was that they had gone into hiding not far from Masyaf, ironically. Basically, I'm taking you home Desmond."
Desmond stayed silent, digesting this new bit of news. He was happy that his parents had escaped, but he had felt a surge of excitement when Lucy had mentioned Masyaf. She had said he was going home but since when did he call the desert home?
XxXxXx
Just a couple little backgrounds for names I picked in case anyone wants to know.
Ghaddar (Badoura's white lioness)- a possibly female demon in the deserts if the Red Seas countries. It catches travelers and tortures them by eating their genitals.
Badoura- heroine of the story camaralzaman and the princess in the Arabian Nights stories. Reputably the "most beautiful woman ever seen upon earth".
Akh- Arabic for "brother"
Yes, yes, I know Desmond and Lucy's escape wasn't very exciting but there's a reason for that and I'm not telling just yet. You'll find out soon enough. The same goes for Badoura…she has her own part to play later on.
Also a warning that I forgot to mention in the first chapter; just like the creators of the game, my historical facts and dates might just be off a little bit so if your historically anal like my sophomore year history teacher was, I apologize in advance. The rest of you might not even notice.
Here's to electricity!
-Vanillathunder215